New senior center plans to be discussed Thursday at special meeting (updated with documents)

MIDDLETOWN -- The Common Council will hold a special meeting this Thursday to review a final presentation by the Eckersley Hall Building Committee on the proposed new senior center.

The Eckersley Hall Building Committee was appointed to oversee the renovation of the former St. Sebastian School to a community and senior center.

The committee and architects will make the presentation to the Common Council at a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. in council chambers in City Hall.

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The committee is asking taxpayers to approve bonding for $4.85 million to perform the necessary renovations. The total projected cost for the renovation is $5.5 million.

A number of grants, bonds and incentives, referred to as "financial opportunities" by committee members, include a $1 million tax credit from the state, $200,000 from the state Historic Restoration Fund and a historic preservation grant from the Connecticut Trust for $5,000, among other energy efficiency grants.

The committee will also present the costs for new construction on Thursday.

A number of residents have contended that it would be cheaper to build a new building on a new site, as opposed to renovating the Georgian-style former school.

John Ireland, an architect with Silver Petrucelli Associates, the agency retained to redesign the building to accommodate a senior and community center, said costs to build a brick-faced building with concrete elements like the existing building would be between $400 and $450 per square foot, which does not include the cost of a building lot. The cost of renovating the existing building on the existing site is about $200 a square foot, he said.

Voters will have an opportunity to vote to approve the project at the Nov. 6 general election. If the project is approved, the committee expects renovations to be completed by April 2014.

Plans will accommodate all existing programs, and allow for expansion of programs and activities. The building will be available to community groups, organizations and clubs, which is expected to generate revenue for the city and senior programing.

If approved, the cost to taxpayers would be between $17 and $25 per year for 10 years, depending on grants awarded for the project.